Influencer denies City of London watch robbery, claims threats
Abdel El Habchi told Southwark Crown Court he was threatened over his children's safety.
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Influencer Abdel El Habchi, 30, has told Southwark Crown Court he denies robbing entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu of a designer watch worth more than £137,000. El Habchi claims that a co-defendant threatened to harm his children if he reported the incident to the police.
The alleged robbery took place on January 28 near the Amazonico restaurant in Berkeley Square, central London. Prosecutors allege that a knife may have been used to cut the watch strap from Mr Botezatu's wrist. A third defendant, Younes Djoudi, has pleaded guilty to the robbery.
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Denial in Court
Giving evidence, El Habchi, who has around a million followers on Facebook, stated he had no idea a robbery was going to happen and did not participate. He told jurors through an Arabic interpreter, “I did not know even that a watch was snatched or stolen until later on.” Mr Botezatu, a Romanian entrepreneur, was reportedly robbed of his Richard Mille watch while smoking a cigar on the terrace of the restaurant.
El Habchi, who came to the UK in 2019, said he was with his friend Ali Eldahouzze, who also denies one count of robbery. He told the court that Djoudi had been aggressive towards Eldahouzze in his car. Later, while walking in the area, El Habchi said he saw Djoudi “use his hand to grab something from the hand” of a man.
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El Habchi explained his decision to run from the scene as panic. He later stated that Eldahouzze told him he was scared of Djoudi. El Habchi tearfully told the court that Djoudi made a threat to him: “if you report anything to the police I will burn your kids.” He added that he was “under threat” and “scared” of Djoudi, whom he claimed “has a lot of connections.”
Prosecutor Arizuna Asante suggested to El Habchi that his intention in going to Berkeley Square was to steal or rob someone with a high-value watch. El Habchi denied this. The court heard that the watch would now be worth significantly more than 160,000 euro.
Further Allegations
The court heard that all three men were held at Wandsworth prison after their arrests. El Habchi also alleged that Djoudi instigated an assault against him in prison in April, in which he suffered a cut to his back and was stamped on the head.
The trial continues.
Questions this report answers
+What is Abdel El Habchi accused of?
Abdel El Habchi, 30, denies robbing entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu of a designer watch worth over £137,000. He is accused alongside Ali Eldahouzze, who also denies the charge. A third man, Younes Djoudi, has pleaded guilty to the robbery.
+What does Abdel El Habchi claim happened?
El Habchi claims he did not participate in the robbery and only learned about it later. He alleges that Younes Djoudi threatened to harm his children if he reported the incident to the police, and that he was scared of Djoudi.
+When and where did the alleged robbery occur?
The alleged robbery is said to have occurred on January 28, near the Amazonico restaurant in Berkeley Square, central London. Prosecutors suggest a knife may have been used to cut the watch strap from Mr Botezatu's wrist.
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